René Zazzo
Encyclopedia
René Zazzo was a French
psychologist
and pedagogue.
The essence of Zazzo's research related to child psychology. He was one of the first people to study a group of problems relating to dyslexia
and disability
. Considering the development of children considered to be weak, Zazzo proposed the concept of "oligophrenic heterochrony
" in order to show that this development, compared with that of normal children, occurred at various speeds, according to the particular psychobiological sector concerned. The majority of research which Zazzo produced between 1950 and 1980 centered around what he regarded as "the principal problem of psychology" -- that of the identity
: how does a person's psyche
build itself? The fields in which he worked were various attempts to bring answers to this question.
(1933-1933), on the advice of Meyerson and of Henri Wallon
, he obtained a grant to study in the laboratory of Gesell at Yale University
, where he specialized in child psychology.
On his return to France, Zazzo began working for the CNRS and integrated the laboratory of Child Psychobiology and the Practical School of the Higher Studies. When the Germans invaded Paris during World War II
, he directed the laboratory of psychopathology
of the Henri Rousselle Hospital. He published his first book during the War, which was devoted to a study of the pioneers of American psychology (1942), before entering the French Resistance
.
In 1945, Zazzo was asked to found the first programs of school psychology
. Zazzo wished to aid children who were not succeeding in school, as opposed to detecting children with psychological problems.
In 1950, Zazzo taught at the same time at the Institute of Psychology, the National Institute for the Vocational guidance, and the laboratory of EPHE, where he succeeded Wallon, before becoming president of the French Company of Psychology in 1955 and in 1977.
In 1967 he occupied the presidency of the Société Française de Psychologie, and in 1968 he was appointed president of the Groupement Français d'Études de Neuro-Psychopathologie Infantile.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and pedagogue.
The essence of Zazzo's research related to child psychology. He was one of the first people to study a group of problems relating to dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
and disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. Considering the development of children considered to be weak, Zazzo proposed the concept of "oligophrenic heterochrony
Heterochrony
In biology, heterochrony is defined as a developmental change in the timing of events, leading to changes in size and shape. There are two main components, namely the onset and offset of a particular process, and the rate at which the process operates...
" in order to show that this development, compared with that of normal children, occurred at various speeds, according to the particular psychobiological sector concerned. The majority of research which Zazzo produced between 1950 and 1980 centered around what he regarded as "the principal problem of psychology" -- that of the identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
: how does a person's psyche
Psyche (psychology)
The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...
build itself? The fields in which he worked were various attempts to bring answers to this question.
Biography
Zazzo was born in Paris in a modest family. After obtaining a Doctorate of Letters in the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
(1933-1933), on the advice of Meyerson and of Henri Wallon
Henri Wallon
Henri-Alexandre Wallon was a French historian and statesman whose decisive contribution to the creation of the Third Republic led him to be called the "Father of the Republic"...
, he obtained a grant to study in the laboratory of Gesell at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he specialized in child psychology.
On his return to France, Zazzo began working for the CNRS and integrated the laboratory of Child Psychobiology and the Practical School of the Higher Studies. When the Germans invaded Paris during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he directed the laboratory of psychopathology
Psychopathology
Psychopathology is the study of mental illness, mental distress, and abnormal/maladaptive behavior. The term is most commonly used within psychiatry where pathology refers to disease processes...
of the Henri Rousselle Hospital. He published his first book during the War, which was devoted to a study of the pioneers of American psychology (1942), before entering the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
.
In 1945, Zazzo was asked to found the first programs of school psychology
School psychology
School psychology is a field that applies principles of clinical psychology and educational psychology to the diagnosis and treatment of children's and adolescents' behavioral and learning problems...
. Zazzo wished to aid children who were not succeeding in school, as opposed to detecting children with psychological problems.
In 1950, Zazzo taught at the same time at the Institute of Psychology, the National Institute for the Vocational guidance, and the laboratory of EPHE, where he succeeded Wallon, before becoming president of the French Company of Psychology in 1955 and in 1977.
In 1967 he occupied the presidency of the Société Française de Psychologie, and in 1968 he was appointed president of the Groupement Français d'Études de Neuro-Psychopathologie Infantile.
Works
- Psychologues et Psychologies d'Amérique (1942)
- Le Devenir de l'Intelligence (1946)
- Intelligence et Quotients d'âges (1946)
- Les Jumeaux, le Couple et la Personne (in two volumes, 1960)
- Conduites et Conscience (in two volumes, 1962, 1968)
- Nouvelle Echelle métrique de l'Intelligence (in two volumes in collaboration with other authors, 1966)
- Des Garçons de 6 à 12 ans (in collaboration, 1969)
- Les Débilités Mentales (in collaboration, 1969)